One of the weather-isms (and fill in where you live) “If you don’t like the weather in Oklahoma, wait a minute!” Changes in weather or life often come fast. In contrast, this “season” from January to now has been the steady lows to the lovely daily 70’s and 80’s punctuated with generous rain. I cannot remember a time of such beauty. Green grass (even mine), so many colors of plants in their glory, and orchids of all varieties (and at least 100 orchids in our Memorial Garden) in cascades of bloom after bloom. We all know the oppressive heat can come any day, but for now it is SPRING and nature is fully vibrant. All this came together Easter Day. Oh how we celebrated the Day of Resurrection! To see your families by your side, the glorious music and angel choir, graceful liturgical dance, and a feast that followed. Christ’s risen presence was radiant. The season of Easter extends to Pentecost June 9th. The Sunday lectionary readings from John remind us to open our eyes to Christ’s steady and transforming presence. In whatever struggle for justice, discord within our families, the pain of life and death, we recall part of a collect from Good Friday “let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord” (BCP p. 280). And to believe (as an action word), to believe into it. Christ is risen. Alleluia. Alleluia.

RESURRECTION AND THE AFTERLIFE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT in the first 6 sessions on Tuesdays at 5-5:45pm in the Parish Hall. Through a look at the words of Jesus in the New Testament, the Apostles Peter and Paul, and the Visions in the Apocalypse of John we will gain an understanding of the afterlife in the New Testament. The format is ½ DVD and 15 minutes discussion. The presenter is Dr. Candida Moss, professor of Theology at Birmingham University (UK) and who previously has taught at Notre Dame and at Yale where she was a student; she also graduated from Oxford. She has appeared on National Geographic, Discovery Channel, and History Channel and authored eight books. Dates and presentations are

May 7 Paul 1: Judgment Day and the Rapture

May 14 Paul 2: Resurrected Bodies

May 21 Paul 3: Mysticism and Heaven

May 28 Gospels 1: The Resurrection of Jesus

June 4 Gospels 2: Mark and Angelic Bodies

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

We are forming a Property Management Committee to help address the needs and repairs of our 5 buildings. If you are good with tools, have an interest and can lend a hand, please call Marie in the office, Monday-Friday, 9 to noon...772-286-5455.

DINNER OUT WITH FRIENDS

DOWF will be Tuesday, May 21, place TBD. Come join us for a fun evening! Call Lynne Spillum at 248-330-8946 to reserve.

FRIDAY MORNING BINGO

Join us for FRIDAY morning weekly Bingo in the Parish Hall. Doors open at 9:30 am, and games begin 10:30 am. Lunch is served for $3. Our players come for the camaraderie as well as the prizes. See you there!

BINGO ITALIAN NIGHT

The next Bingo Italian Night is Thursday, May 16! For the reasonable price of $10, each person will receive a small Bingo Card and a Pasta Dinner with Salad and Dessert. Beer & wine will be available for a donation as will the purchase of additional cards and specials. Come join us for a night of fun and fellowship. Doors open at 5pm, dinner @5:30pm and Bingo promptly begins at 6:30pm.

BALANCE AND MOVEMENT/TAI CHI CLASS

Balance class continues on Tuesdays at 1pm in the SLSA Bldg. by Audrey Burzynski of Floridians Fighting Falls. If you are interested in this class please call the Church office 772-286-5455 for details. The cost is $10 per session with prepayment of the current month in advance and a $15 initial, yearly registration fee for St. Luke's School of the Arts.

YOGA CLASS

Thursdays at 4:30pm in the School of the Arts Building. Join us for a 60 minute session of easy yoga with a 30 minute meditation on our backs. The cost is $15 per session with a $15 initial, yearly registration fee for St. Luke's School of the Arts.

CHRISTIAN MEDITATION

Christian Meditation is available Saturday mornings at 10:30 in the SLSA/Admin Building. We begin with hearing about how the prayerful practice of meditation enriches the life of faith. The World Community of Christian Meditation of which St. Luke’s is a chapter regularly provides CDs. Then we sit in silence for 20 minutes. All are invited whether new or experienced in meditation. If you have any questions, please call Dick Barron 561 659-1664.

THRIFT STORE

The shop is in need of summer volunteers one day a month from 10am to 1pm Wednesdays through Saturdays. We are now down 8 seasonal volunteers and our year-round staff needs assistance. Of course, if any summer volunteer would like to work year round, we would certainly welcome it. New volunteers are trained with an experienced one. Please see Arlene Brammer or Bob Grubb if you are interested. As always, thank you for your support.

THE WOMEN OF ST. LUKE'S

met on Saturday April 13, 2019. Nominations for the slate of officers for September 2019 - May 2020 are as follows:

President - Linda True Vice President - Arlene Brammer

Treasurer - Debbie Dwyer Secretary -

Nominations are open and will be voted upon at the May 18, 2019 Meeting.

Please note that the May meeting will take place on the third Saturday in May due to Mother's Day weekend falling on our usual scheduled date. May 18 will be our last meeting until September, Please join us for a luncheon following the May 18th meeting at Twisted Tuna, Port Salerno at 11:30 A.M.

All of the women of St. Luke's parish are a part of this ministry and we warmly welcome all to attend. Please call Gail St. Philip at 772-223-1469 if you plan to attend the luncheon.

Hope to see you at the meeting and/or the luncheon. Thank you, Carol Adams

BACK TO SCHOOL BACKPACK PROGRAM "SPONSOR A CHILD"

Our 14th annual BACK TO SCHOOL EVENT will take place this year on Saturday August 3 from 8 am to noon. If you have never seen this enormous undertaking, I highly recommend you drop in either Friday August 2 to pack some of our 700 backpacks or Saturday August 3 to give them away. You will be amazed and feeling blessed.

If you can find it in your heart and budget, the backpack program needs your help to fill in its budget gap. For $20 you may "Sponsor A Child" which will fill one backpack for one child or of course you may give any other amount you can spare. There will be people in the Parish Hall each week to assist you or you may make a check out to St. Luke's, and designate "Backpack Program" in the lower left corner.

Thank you so very much for your kindness and generosity. -The Back to School Committee

MARTHA'S GUILD is welcoming new members to better serve our parish families preparing to say goodbye to a favorite loved one. We are in need of those willing to donate a plate of cookies or a pan of brownies for funeral receptions as well as extra hands for set up, clean up and being a smiling face to serve beverages during these gatherings. For more information, please contact Cindy Williams (772-341-0463) or Catherine Winters (772-631-1005).

IN HONOR OF OUR LOVED ONES...

“Many years ago when the Church extended the seating by installing more pews we had a campaign to raise money by “Selling Pews.” A pew “In Memory Of” (if deceased) and “In Honor Of” (if still living) was available for $200. This was acknowledged by an engraved brass plate mounted on plaques which are displayed on the walls of the church and will be there for posterity! This is a wonderful way of having loved ones, or oneself, remembered - lovely to be able to see their names FOR EVER in St. Luke’s Church, and your gift will help to maintain our wonderful Church! Please contact Marie in the church office via email at marie@stlukesfl.org for forms, or speak to Pat Reed.

St. Luke’s is in need of singers!St. Luke’s is in need of singers!! Count how many singers are here today! What happens if one is sick or on vacation or needs to work, etc? We need you to contribute your voice and time. St. Luke’s will be a very different place if we don’t have a choir, and you could make the difference! It’s not often you are asked to contribute when you enjoy the giving. Singing is a joy! Please consider being a participant, a giver in our worship, not just a passive observer and receiver. See what a current member thinks about the experience by talking with us and consider improving your whole worship experience. Join us on Wed at 6:30 P M or Sunday at 9:00 A M. Please see Anne Hlasnicek or contact Russell McFee at mcfeerr@gmail.com if you are interested.